January 15, 1962: The Worth Ball at The Brooklyn Museum on Saturday evening, May 5, will be held in conjunction with the gala opening of the House of Worth Exhibition, the major showing of gowns by Charles Frederick Worth, founder of the French haute couture. Starting in the late 1850s in Paris, Worth rapidly became couturier to the Second Empire court of France and to practically every woman of importance and notoriety in Europe and America.
Co-Chairmen of the Ball, Mrs. Tracy S. Voorhees and Mr. William G. Lord with coordinator Mrs. George Liberman, announced that arrangements have been completed with the Community Committee of The Brooklyn Museum to transform the Museum’s Auditorium Court into a formal French garden in the style of decor for festive occasions in the time of Worth. Thirty-five gowns by Worth, not included in the Exhibition, have been especially assembled for exclusive showing in a glittering fashion parade at the Ball.
Chairmen and co-chairmen of the various committees of the Ball, for the Museum’s Community Committee are:
Mrs. Robert T. H. Davidson and Mr. Leonard O’Brien, Chairmen for the Journal
Mrs. Jules B. deMesquita, Treasurer
Mrs. John F. Dooling, Jr., Corresponding Secretary
Mrs. Leonard H. Lorence, Recording Secretary
Mrs. Abbott A. Lippman, Budget Advisor
Mrs. John F. Thompson, Jr., Chairman; Mrs. Clarence G. Bachrach, Mrs. Edward M. Fuller, Mrs. Leon A. Rosenbaum, Mrs. Hollis
K. Thayer, Co-Chairmen of the Patrons Committee
Mrs. Samuel Berke, Chairman of Decor
Mrs. William Hoffman, Chairman; Mrs. Andrew E. Brennan and Mrs. Aaron Moldover, Co-Chairmen of Arrangements
Mrs. Samuel Becker and Mrs. Jay M. Eisenberg, Co-Chairmen of Prizes and Raffles
Mrs. Donald J. Magilligan, Chairman and Mrs. E. Vincent Curtayne, Co-Chairman of Printing
Mrs. Henry LaVine, Mrs. Edgerton G. North and Mrs. Franklyn H. Peper, Co-Chairmen of Seating
Mrs. Morris T. Koven, Chairman and Mrs. Ralph Wolfe, Co-Chairman of Tickets
Mrs. Harry Schoenfeld, Chairman of Publicity
Mrs. A. Seth Werner, Chairman of Hostess Committee
The President of the Community Committee is Mrs. M. Theodore Tanenhaus.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1953 - 1970. 1962, 002-3.
January 23, 1962: Mrs. Tracy S. Voorhees of 184 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, entertained at a buffet luncheon for committee chairmen of the Worth Ball to be held at The Brooklyn Museum on May 5. Mrs. Voorhees and Mr. William G. Lord are co-chairmen of the Ball. Mrs. George Liberman is co-ordinator.
Plans were discussed to transform the Museum’s Auditorium Court into a formal French garden as a background for the showing of thirty-five Worth gowns. The show will be in conjunction with a glittering exhibition in the Museum’s Special Exhibitions Galleries honoring Charles Frederick Worth, founder of French haute couture.
Among those attending the luncheon at Mrs. Voorhees’ home were the following: Mrs. Liberman, Ball Coordinator; Mrs. Robert T.H. Davidson, Journal Chairman; Mrs. John F. Thompson Jr., Chairman and Mrs. Clarence G. Bachrach, Mrs. Edward M. Fuller, Mrs. Leon A. Rosenbaum, Co-Chairmen of the Patrons Committee; Mrs. Samuel Berke, Chairman of Decor; Mrs. Harry Schoenfeld, Chairman of Publicity; Mrs. William Hoffman, Chairman, and Mrs. Andrew E. Brennan, Co-Chairman of Arrangements; Mrs. A. Seth Werner, Chairman of Hostess Committee; Mrs. Henry La Vine, Mrs. Edgerton G. North and Mrs. Franklyn H. Peper, Co-Chairmen of Seating; Mrs. Samuel Becker, Prizes and Raffles; Mrs. Abbott A. Lippman, Budget Adviser; Mrs. Leonard H. Lorence, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Jules deMesquita, Treasurer; and Mrs. N. Theodore Tanenhaus, President of the Community Committee.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1953 - 1970. 1962, 011.
March 5, 1962: Mr. Robert Riley, Curator of the Costume Department of the Edward C. Blum Design Laboratory at The Brooklyn Museum announced the appointment of Miss Emma Auer as a special Department assistant. Following many years of successful association with the fashion industry in this country and Europe, Miss Auer will serve as liaison for Mr. Riley with members of the Industrial Design Laboratory.
Miss Auer’s long list of credits include her assignment as fashion director of Carson Pirie Scott and Company in Chicago where she coordinated fashion showings, display and fashion training for the Company’s 23 stores. Prior to her position at Carson[']s she was fashion director of Independent Retailers Syndicate, buying office with clients in the United States, Europe and South Africa. At I.R.S. Miss Auer covered the market in both ready-to-wear and home furnishings areas.
The world of fashion has been the leading career interest of Miss Auer who was fashion advertising manager for Famous-Barr Company in St. Louis where she became the store’s first fashion director. Earlier she was advertising manager at Boyd’s in St. Louis, one of the country’s largest specialty shops.
In addition to her other duties, Miss Auer will assist in the coordination and presentation of the Museum’s forthcoming major showing, THE HOUSE OF WORTH, the Exhibition which will include 54 gowns designed by Charles Frederick Worth, who established the first great Paris house of fashion. This Exhibition opens on May 8.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1953 - 1970. 1962, 018.
March 13, 1962: A major event in the fashion world will take place on Saturday evening, May 5, when there will be a gala preview of The House of Worth Exhibition in conjunction with The Worth Ball at The Brooklyn Museum. The evening will sparkle with the display of gowns designed by Charles Frederick Worth, who was the foremost international fashion influence from the mid-nineteenth century until the beginning of World War I.
At the Ball many original Worth gowns will be worn in a runway fashion show in addition to the larger number of Worth costumes, photographs, sketches and documentary material in the Exhibition. The Ball will begin at 9 o’clock with the opening of the Exhibition and dancing to Lester Lanin’s orchestra. The fashion show will be held at 11 o'clock and supper will be served at midnight.
Among the great names in the world of fashion on the Sponsoring Committee for the Ball are designers: Bonnie Cashin, Jane Derby, Norman Norell, Adele Simpson, Carolyn Schnurer, Pauline Trigere, and Hannah Troy. Jessica Daves, Editor of Vogue and Nancy White, Editor of Harper’s Bazaar are sponsoring the Ball, along with John Fairchild, Publisher of Women’s Wear Daily and the Daily News Record; stage and television personality, Arlene Francis; and manufacturers Adolph Klein, Ben Reig and Herbert Sondheim.
Reservations for the Preview and the Ball may be made by calling STerling 9-2493 or by mail to The Worth Ball, The Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn 38, New York.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1953 - 1970. 1962, 020.
Date unknown, 1962: The Worth Ball at The Brooklyn Museum on Saturday, May 5, 1962, will be held in conjunction with the gala opening of the House of Worth Exhibition, the major showing of gowns by Charles Frederick Worth, founder of French haute couture. Starting in the late 1850’s in Paris, Worth rapidly became couturier to the Second Empire court of France and to practically every woman of importance and notoriety in Europe and America.
The Museum’s Auditorium Court will be transformed into a formal French garden in the style and decor for festive occasions of the late 19th Century. A collection of gowns by Worth, not included in the Exhibition, have been especially assembled for exclusive showing in a glittering fashion parade at the Ball.
Eight major benefit events have been mounted by the Community Committee which was organized in 1946 to enhance public knowledge and appreciation of The Brooklyn Museum, enlarge its membership, provide volunteer help and raise money for its cultural programs. Over $100,000 has been realized from these efforts. The Worth Exhibition and Ball of 1962, under the auspices of the Museum’s Governing Board, will be a joint project of the Industrial Design Laboratory and the Community Committee.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1953 - 1970. 1962, 028.
